Earthcharter

SBA Case Study: Creative Contractors, Inc

Friday, 26 February 2010 19:43

MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY

Company Name: Creative Contractors, Inc.

Contact: Joshua Bomstein
Website:  www.creativecontractors.com

Number of Employees: 65
Certifications/Affiliations: LEED certification / U.S. Green Building Council
Year Established: 1974
Industry: Commercial Construction

Introduction:  Founded in 1974 by Alan C. Bomstein, the company has steadily grown from one employee to more than 60.   Creative Contractors is known for construction of high quality, landmark buildings and LEED certified buildings.  Creative Contractors was awarded "Contractor of the Year" in 2000 by the American Subcontractors Association.

Sustainable Practices and Initiatives (Planet)

Technology/Infrastructure:  Creative specializes in the construction of LEED certified buildings.  While not all of its buildings are LEED certified, they do try and apply as much of their knowledge to each project in order to minimize the impact to the local environment.

Materials and Recycling:  Creative has taken great strides to green its own office environment including installing dual-flush toilets and programmable thermostats.  They have also replaced part of the cooling system of their office building with a variable refrigerant system (an innovative new, efficient air conditioning technology.) Purchasing policies have also been put in place which includes the use of recycled paper products and vegetable-based kitchen supplies.  The accounting department also recently implemented a paperless system in which all invoices are scanned and all internal coding takes place online. Likewise our estimating department has put into place an "online plan room" which has dramatically reduced distribution of paper blueprints for our construction projects. Creative has long recycled paper, aluminum, and plastic, and is actively researching further waste reduction strategies.  On job sites, Creative has always recycled concrete, cardboard, aluminum, drywall for fertilizer and uses recycled content.

Products/Services:  Creative Contractors is Tampa bay's leading green builder.  As a founding member of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council,

Creative understands intensely the value of sustainable design and construction in mitigating the negative impacts of development and construction.  Creative understands that green building is one of humanities greatest opportunities to mitigate some of the planet's most critical issues, particularly in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change and threaten quality of life here in Tampa Bay.

Creative has successfully constructed four LEED Certified facilities including Tampa Bay's first public building to do so (the Dunedin Community Center which achieved LEED Silver Certification.)  Creative also built and certified the state's first LEED Silver Certified school (Gulf Trace Elementary in Holiday.)  Other LEED Certified projects include Tarpon Springs Elementary (Gold Certified) and Chancey Design Partnership Corporate Headquarters (Certified.)  Creative is also anticipating Gold Certification for Watergrass Elementary in Wesley Chapel.  Creative recently completed the new Science & Technology buildign at USF St. Petersburg.  It is anticipated to achieve LEED Gold Certification and will be USF's first LEED certified facility at any of its campuses.

Creative is under contract and providing preconstruction services for seven other LEED registered projects.  Southeast Construction magazine recognized Creative as a Top 50 Green Builder in the Southeast in 2009, and in 2008 Engineering News-Record magazine (the industry standard) recognized Creative as a top 100 green builder in the nation in 2008.

Economic Impact (Profit)

Creative Contractors, in 35 years as a local Tampa Bay commercial contractor, has never had a year without profits.  Stable and client-focused management has enabled Creative Contractors to be successful and profitable thus contributing greatly to the economic health of Tampa Bay.  As one of Tampa Bay's largest locally owned construction companies, volume has exceeded $90 million per year over the past three years. Creative Contractors utilizes only local subcontractors and often hire minority owned subcontractors, thus the vast majority of revenue generated is directly reinvested back into the local economy.  Creative Contractors employs hundreds of contractors on each of its jobs.

Community Commitment (People)

External: As a dedicated local company, Creative encourages all of its employees to be active in their communities.  Each employee is offered three full days of paid time off for the sole purpose of service work.  Many employees participate in numerous outreach efforts including Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers and Sisters and many more. The CEO of Creative Contractors, Alan C. Bomstein, has long had a very active civic life and has been awarded various civic awards. Joshua Bomstein has continued this tradition of community involvement, and as Vice President of Business Development serves on the Board of Directors of the Clearwater regional Chamber of Commerce, City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board (Chairman), Pinellas Economic Development Council, Clearwater Arts Foundation, Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (President,) and Pinellas County Contractor Prequalification Committee.  Joshua Bomstein, Vice President of Business Development at Creative, is a recognized leader in sustainability in Tampa Bay and currently serves as President of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.  He has been on the Board for the past four years and previously served two years as its vice president.  He has presented on the benefits of green building throughout the state at conferences and for many organizations as well as serving on numerous panel discussions.  He has given more than 30 presentations on green building in the last four years.

Internal:  All of their employees are on a full-time basses.  Creative offers bonuses for higher education and certification and Creative pays 100% of tuition.  Creative offers benefits (Health, 401K, etc) to employees and has promised to not pass on any of the increased premiums for medical benefits to their employees.

Community Partners:    The CEO, Alan Bomstein, serves on the boards of BayCare Health System (former Chairman and serves on the finance committee), USF Foundation Board (chairman of investment committee), WEDU, Morton Plant Hospital (former Chairman and serves on the finance Committee), Pinellas County Board of Adjustment, Fifth Third Bank, and ABC Coalition (A Baseball Community.) Creative Contractors is also a supporter of Ruth Eckerd Hall, Pinellas Education Foundation, Manatee Education Foundation, Pasco Education Foundation, Morton Plant Hospital, USF, United Way, Partners for the Arts city of Largo, and Neighborly Care (donates to Meals of Wheels).